Lavatory suspension implement

ABSTRACT

An implement for temporarily suspending a basin beneath a horizontal lavatory top panel having a basin access opening therein, including a footing spanning the panel opening on an upper surface thereof and pivotally supporting about a horizontal axis the fulcrum of a lever arm having a rear portion overlying the access opening and from which a suspension linkage including a spring extends downwardly through such opening and through a drain opening in the basin to engage a lower surface of the basin forcing it upwardly into seated engagement with the top panel such that permanent mounting brackets may be installed. The lever arm includes a front portion of adjustable length terminating in a hook means adapted to hook on the front edge of the panel, and a handle may be included, connected to the lever arm at the fulcrum to facilitate attachment of the implement to the panel.

United States Patent [1 Busch [451 Apr. 9, 1974 LAVATORY SUSPENSION IMPLEMENT [76] Inventor: Albert L. Busch, 18521 Maclaren,

La Puente, Calif. 91744 22 Filed: May 11, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 252,286

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,746,062 5/1956 Waltz 4/187 R 1,660,379 2/1928 Gray 269/43 Primary ExaminerLeon G. Machlin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Miketta, Glenny, Poms & Smith [5 7] ABSTRACT An implement for temporarily suspending a basin beneath a horizontal lavatory top panel having a basin access opening therein, including a footing spanning the panel opening on an upper surface thereof and pivotally supporting about a horizontal axis the fulcrum of a lever arm having a rear portion overlying the access opening and from which a suspension linkage including a spring extends downwardly through such opening and through a drain opening in the basin to engage a lower surface of the basin forcing it upwardly into seated engagement with the top panel such that permanent mounting brackets may be installed. The lever arm includes a front portion of adjustable length terminating in a hook means adapted to hook on the front edge of the panel, and a handle may be included, connected to the lever arm at the fulcrum to facilitate attachment of the implement to the panel.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LAVATORY SUSPENSION IMPLEMENT In general the present invention relates to an implement for facilitating installation of lavatory basins.

Contemporary lavatory basins are typically mounted in place by suspending the basin beneath a lavatory top panel, such as a marble slab or the like, having a basin access opening therein in registration with cavity of the basin itself. To provide this installation, the basin must be disposed with an upper peripheral flange in engagement with the lower circumferential edge of the panel opening and this relationship maintained while a number of small brackets are mounted in place securing the preipheral flange to the panel. Typically such brackets are fastened as by a screw threaded into the lower face of the panel.

It has been found that during such installations, it is difficult to properly align the basin with the panel opening and moreover readjustment of the screws and brackets is frequently required in order to properly place the bowl. Particular difficulty is encountered in those cases where the lavatory panel is a marble slab, a popular modern day design, in that the screw fasteners are not easily installed in the marble material. In general these problems of installation have resulted in a heretofore laborious and time consuming operation, particularly insofar as the problem of supporting the basin while attemtping to move it into registration with the marble slab access opening and then finally securing'it to the slab.

Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide an impliment for facilitating the installation of basins of the type which are supported beneath a lavatory top panel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an implement having a few number of parts for economical manufacture; having ease of operation to meet the overall objective of the invention namely, to facilitate the task of installing basins; and exhibiting an inherent ruggedness in its design such that accidental breakage of the device during use in unlikely.

These and further objects and various advantages of the lavatory suspension implement constructed in accordance with the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view illustrating the implement of the present invention positioned in place during installation of the lavatory basin;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken generally along the plane II-lI of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the broken line III-Ill of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane IVIV of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane VV of FIG. 2.

With reference to the drawings, the present invention provides an implement indicated generally at 11 for temporarily suspending a basin l2 beneath a lavatory top panel 13, for example a marble slab, wherein panel 13 is formed with a basin access opening 14 for registration with the cavity 15 of the basin as best shown by FIG. 2. Panel 13 may be mounted in place first and prior to installation of the basin as illustrated in the drawings in which the panel is horizontally supported relative to a wall 16, by conventional means not shown, or the basin 12 may be initially mounted to an unattached panel for installation of the entire lavatory assembly as a unit.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, implement 11 is comprised of a footing means 17 for spanning the opening 14 of panel 13 adjacent an upper surface 18 thereof, wherein the footing means is preferably formed of an elongate bar 19 having a pair of feet 21 and 22 at each end of bar 19 and extending laterally on either side of the axis thereof to define a planar abutment surface 23 engageable with upper surface 18 of the panel. Bar 19 is selected to have a sufficient length for spanning standard basin openings. An elongate suspension means 24, here in the form of a spring 26 and chain 27, is provided at a lower end thereof with an anchor means 28 for engaging a lower circumferential edge of a drain opening 29in basin l2 and an upper or second end of suspension means 24 is arranged to be supported by footing means 17. In particular, a lever arm 31 pivotally carried at its fulcrum and supported by footing means 17 provides at its rear end means for supporting an upper end of suspension means 24 and for tensioning such means including spring 26 so as to force an upper peripheral flange 32 of basin 12 into secure engagement with a mating lower edge 33 surrounding the panel opening. Once basin 12 is so se cured, implement 11 is locked in place by hook means 34 formed at the front end of lever arm 31 and engageable with a lower peripheral edge of panel 13 as illustrated so as to maintain the tension on suspension means 24 at a second end of arm 31.

With basin 12 so secured, it is possible to adjust the registration between cavity 16 and opening 14 with slight shifting and rotational forces on basin 12 relative to the panel 13. Once properly in registration, basin 12 may be permanently affixed to the panel by conventional means such as a plurality of brackets and screw means as indicated at 36 and 37 of FIG. 2.

To facilitate the lever action of arm 31, it is pivoted about an axis vertically spaced above upper surface 18 of panel 13 by an upstanding pivot support 38 carried by bar 19 of footing means 17 centrally thereof. Support 38 includes a pair of laterally spaced upright extensions 41 and 42 with extension 41 extending above the other extension 42 and having an opening 43 therein axially aligned with a semi-circular recess 44 formed in an upper edge of extension 42 so that opening 43 and recess 44 provide a bearing means for lever arm 31. In particular, a first section 46 of the lever arm 31 fixedly carries an annular transverse member 47 as best shown in FIG. 3, having opposite ends thereof rotatably and removably carried in the bearing means provided by opening 43 and recess 44 of extensions 41 and 42 as illustrated.

In addition to section 46 of arm 31 which is pivotally mounted on support 38, a second section 48 in the form of a cylindrical sleeve telescopically slidable on section 46 so as to provide arm 31 with a longitudinally extendable front end carrying hook means 34. In use, section 48 of lever arm 31 may be selectively extended and shortened while simultaneously applying a downward manual force adjacent hook means 34 such that the second end 49 of arm 31 rises, thus tensioning susment of a flange 51 of hook means 34 is effected so as to abut a lower peripheral edge 52 of panel 13, securing the first end of arm 31 against upward release relative to the panel. It is observed that hook means 34 of lever arm 31 is movable into engagement with any convenient peripheral edge of panel 13 spaced from basin access opening 14. Extendable section 48 may be secured against longitudinal displacement relative to section 46 by a suitable locking screw means 53 here carried by section 48. With implement 11 thus locked in place, basin 12 is securely held to panel 13 for completion of the basin installation.

in order to facilitate the articulation of section 48 and hook means 34 into engagement with the panel edge, a handle means 54 is fixedly carried by lever arm 31 and is here provided by an integral extension 56 of transverse member 47 bent at 57 as indicated in FIG. 3 so as to lie in a vertical plane generally parallel to that of arm 31, and extending upwardly and forwardly from its juncture with the lever arm. An upward inclination of extension 56 is here provided relative to the axis of arm 31 so as to dispose handle means 54 at a more convenient angle. Furthermore it is observed that lever arm 31 including handle means 54 is detachable from upstanding support 38 merely by simultaneously upward and lateral motion of section 46 at transverse member 47 so as to release the end of transverse member 47 from its bearing opening 43. Lever arm 31 and footing means 17 may thus be transported separately.

Suspension means 24 is a generally elongate linkage here provided by spring 26 and chain 27 so as to extend from a lower end upwardly through drain opening 29 of basin 12, through the basin cavity 16 and panel access opening 14 to an upper or second end here provided by an upper end 58 of spring 26 connected to and supported from the rear end 49 of arm 31. Spring 26 once tensioned by the movement of lever arm 31 and hook means 34 into place, serves to continuously and positively urge basin 12 into mating engagement with panel 13. Anchor means 28 is here provided by a generally elongate rigid structural member 59 having a length adequate to span opening 29. Member 59 is preferably rotatably supported at a central location thereof to chain 27 of suspension means 24 by means of an eyebolt assembly 61 such that member 59 may be rotated to a position longitudinally aligned with chain 27 and thus with suspension means 24 for selective passage downwardly through drain opening 29 from above. After passage through opening 29 member 59 is rotated to extend perpendicular to the axis of chain 27 so as to engage the lower circumferential edge of opening 29. Alternatively, anchor means 28 may be mounted in place from beneath drain opening 29 by disconnecting chain 27 from spring 27 and passing the linkage of chain 27 upwardly through opening 29 with member 59 depending therefrom and connecting the linkage to a lower end 62 of spring 26. In such case, it is observed that member 59 need not be rotatably supported by chain 27.

I claim:

1. An implement for temporarily suspending a basin beneath a lavatory top panel with an upper peripheral edge of such basin matingly engaging a lower circumferential edge of a basin access opening in said panel, comprising:

footing means for spanning the opening in said panel at an upper surface thereof,

elongate suspension means having its lower first end anchor means for engaging a lower circumferential edge ofa drain opening in said basin and for extension upwardly through said drain opening to its upper end, and

tensioning means connecting the upper end of said suspension means to and for support by said footingmeans at a central location thereon for selectively placing said suspension means in tension forcing said upper basin edge into secure engagement with the mating lower edge of said panel opening,

said tensioning means comprising a rigid lever arm pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on said footing means and having a forward end adapted to be removably secured to the panel at a location spaced from the basin access opening therein, and a rear end extending from said footing means so as to overlie such opening, the upper end of said suspension means connected to the rear end of said lever arm to provide said connection to and support by said footing means.

2. The implement of claim 1 further defined by said footing means carrying an upstanding centrally located pivot support,

said lever arm being pivotally mounted on said support adjacent an upper end thereof so as to be vertically spaced above said panel.

3. The implement of claim 1, said lever arm having a section pivotally mounted to said footing means and a second section adjacent thereto and providing said forward end and being longitudinally extendable relative to said mounted section,

and hook means mounted on said second section at the forward end of said arm for selective engagement with a peripheral lower edge of said panel removably securing said forward end against upward release thereof when said suspension means is placed in tension by said lever arm.

4. The implement of claim 3, wherein said suspension member includes a spring member, whereby said spring member is tensioned by a downward manual force on the forward end of said lever arm during movement of said hook means toward engagement with the panel edge.

5. The implement of claim 4, wherein said anchor means at the lower end of said suspension means comprises a generally elongate rigid member rotatably supported at a central location thereof, whereby said anchor means member may be rotated to a position longitudinally aligned with the axis of said suspension means for selective passage thereof through said basin drain opening from above and thereafter rotated to extend perpendicular to the suspension means axis for engaging a lower circumference of the drain opening.

6. The implement of claim 1, said footing means comprising an elongate bar having feet at each end thereof extending laterally on either side of said bar to define a planar abutment surface engageable with the upper surface of said panel such that a central portion of said bar spans the basin access opening.

7. The implement of claim 3, said footing means carrying an upstanding centrally located pivot support,

a handle means connected to said lever arm at the pivotal axis thereof to facilitate longitudinal adjustment of said extendable section of said arm,

and means selectively locking said extendable section against longitudinal movement relative to the pivotally mounted arm section. 8. The implement of claim 7, said pivot support member having horizontally spaced apart bearing means,

said pivotally mounted lever arm section fixedly carrying a transverse member extending on either side thereof and being detachably pivotally received in said bearing means, one end of said transverse member having an elongate integral extension bent so as to extend generally toward the forward end of said lever arm and angularly spaced thereabove to provide said handle means. 9. The implement of claim 8, said pivot support member having a pair of laterally spaced upright extensions at the upper end thereof,

one of said extensions extending higher than the other and having an opening therein and the other of said extensions having a semicircular recess in the upper edge thereof axially aligned with said opening,

said pivotally mounted lever arm section disposed with the end of said transverse member opposite the end providing said handle means rotatably carried in said extension opening and the other end of said transverse member rotatably carried in said semicircular recess thereby providing said bearing means detachably receiving said lever arm section. 

1. An implement for temporarily suspending a basin beneath a lavatory top panel with an upper peripheral edge of such basin matingly engaging a lower circumferential edge of a basin access opening in said panel, comprising: footing means for spanning the opening in said panel at an upper surface thereof, elongate suspension means having its lower first end anchor means for engaging a lower circumferential edge of a drain opening in said basin and for extension upwardly through said drain opening to its upper end, and tensioning means connecting the upper end of said suspension means to and for support by said footing means at a central location thereon for selectively placing said suspension means in tension forcing said upper basin edge into secure engagement with the mating lower edge of said panel opening, said tensioning means comprising a rigid lever arm pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on said footing means and having a forward end adapted to be removably secured to the panel at a location spaced from the basin access opening therein, and a rear end extending from said footing means so as to overlie such opening, the upper end of said suspension means connected to the rear end of said lever arm to provide said connection to and support by said footing means.
 2. The implement of claim 1 further defined by said footing means carrying an upstanding centrally located pivot support, said lever arm being pivotally mounted on said support adjacent an upper end thereof so as to be vertically spaced above said panel.
 3. The implement of claim 1, said lever arm having a section pivotally mounted to said footing means and a second section adjacent thereto and providing said forward end and being longitudinally extendable relative to said mounted section, and hook means mounted on said second section at the forward end of said arm for selective engagement with a peripheral lower edge of said panel removably securing said forward end against upward release thereof when said suspension means is placed in tension by said lever arm.
 4. The implement of claim 3, wherein said suspension member includes a spring member, whereby said spring member is tensioned by a downward manual force on the forward end of said lever arm during movement of said hook means toward engagement with the panel edge.
 5. The implement of claim 4, wherein said anchor means at the lower end of said suspension means comprises a generally elongate rigid member rotatably supported at a central location thereof, whereby said anchor means member may be rotated to a position longitudinally aligned with the axis of said suspension means for selective passage thereof through said basin drain opening from above and thereafter rotated to extend perpendicular to the suspension means axis for engaging a lower circumference of the drain opening.
 6. The implement of claim 1, said footing means comprising an elongate bar having feet at each end thereof extending laterally on either side of said bar to define a planar abutment surface engageable with the upper surface of said panel such that a central portion of said bar spans the basin access opening.
 7. The implement of claim 3, said footing means carrying an upstanding centrally located pivot support, a handle means connected to said lever arm at the pivotal axis thereof to facilitate longitudinal adjustment of said extendable section of said arm, and means selectively locking said extendable section against longitudinal movement relative to the pivotally mounted arm section.
 8. The implement of claim 7, said pivot support member having horizontally spaced apart bearing means, said pivotally mounted lever arm section fixedly carrying a transverse member extending on either side thereof and being detachably pivotally received in said bearing means, one end of said transverse member having an elongate integral extension bent so as to extend generally toward the forward end of said lever arm and angularly spaced thereabove to provide said handle means.
 9. The implement of claim 8, said pivot support member having a pair of laterally spaced upright extensions at the upper end thereof, one of said extensions extending higher than the other and having an opening therein and the other of said extensions having a semicircular recess in the upper edge thereof axially aligned with said opening, said pivotally mounted lever arm section disposed with the end of said transverse member opposite the end providing said handle means rotatably carried in said extension opening and the other end of said transverse member rotatably carried in said semicircular recess thereby providing said bearing means detachably receiving said lever arm section. 